Bugonia

What’s it about?

Two conspiracy theorists kidnap a high-profile CEO, who they believe is an alien planning to destroy the human race.

The facts

• Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
• Stars Emma Stone, Jesse Plemmons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias and Alicia Silverstone
• Bugonia is Yorgos’ fourth feature-length film with Emma Stone, following The Favourite, Poor Things and Kinds of Kindness 
• English language
• Runtime: 118 minutes
• Remake of the 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet!

Why did it get this rating?

This film was classified by Te Mana Whakaatu, Classification Office. You can find out more about classification process and ratings here.

Graphic violence and cruelty

Bugonia has scenes with violence and cruelty, some of them graphic with detail of injury and blood. The strongest moments include:

• A character attempts to fight off her two kidnappers, who inject her with a sedative to subdue her.
• A character is kept chained in a basement and is cruelly electrocuted on one occasion.
• The victim’s body parts are depicted spasming from the electrocution but most of the assault takes place off-screen and is implied by sound effects and flickering lights. The victim’s mouth is bleeding when her gag is removed.
• Two characters fight and violently strangle each other.
• One character is stabbed in the shoulder with a fork, and the other is knocked out after being hit in the back of the head with the butt of a rifle.
• A character is repeatedly bashed with a spade. The attack takes place just outside the frame and is implied by sound effects and blood splatter. The victim’s bloodied body is later depicted lying on the ground.
• A character accidentally blows himself up with a homemade bomb. The victim’s severed head is depicted bouncing around a room following the explosion.

Offensive language

Characters use coarse and highly offensive language, such as “sh*t”, “bullsh*t”, “horsesh*t”, “dipsh*t”, “f**k”, and “f**king”. This language is used aggressively on occasions.

Suicide

Off-screen, a character shoots himself in the head with a rifle, splattering another character’s face with blood. The victim’s body is later depicted lying on the ground with a bloody wound and a pool of blood around his head.

Sexual violence references

It is implied that a babysitter may have sexually abused a character when he was a child.

Helplines:

Scenes with suicide could be upsetting for some viewers, especially for those who have gone through similar experiences. If you are struggling with what you have seen on-screen please reach out for help. If you or someone you know needs to talk:

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• Poor Things (content breakdown)
• Kinds of Kindness (content breakdown)